Bickerton , Mabel 105
Formerly of West Elizabeth

Mabel Cadman Bickerton, formerly of West Elizabeth, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, in Lawson Nursing Home, Jefferson Hills, at the age of 105. Mrs. Bickerton was born in McKeesport on May 4, 1902, the oldest of four daughters of the late William H. and Sadie B. Mains Cadman. She and her husband, the late John C. Bickerton, were married for 64 years. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Carol and Jack Lovell, of Hagerstown, Md., and Irene and Ken Yonkee, of Beaver Falls; one son and daughter-in-law, John and Mary Bickerton, of Pinetop, Ariz.; nine grandchildren and three step-grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sara Vancik, of Monongahela, and Grace Landrey, of Chandler, Ariz.; three sisters-in-law, Grace Fekula and Aileen Bickerton, of Clairton, and Betty Robb, of Elizabeth; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one sister, Ruth Mountain. Mrs. Bickerton had been a resident of West Elizabeth since 1929. She was a retired teacher, having taught in the West Elizabeth and Jefferson Borough schools for 30 years. Mrs. Bickerton was a graduate of California Normal School. She was an accomplished musician and gave private piano lessons. Mrs. Bickerton had been a Girl Scout leader, a member of the Homemaker's Club of Floreffe, and a member of the Clairton AARP. At the West Elizabeth Sesquicentennial celebration in August 1998, she was the keynote speaker, being the oldest living resident. Mrs. Bickerton was a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Monongahela, having taught Sunday school for many years, where she also played the piano and organ and was a soprano soloist. She wrote complete programs and composed all the music for the summer Bible Schools for over 30 years. She wrote a monthly column for 21 years entitled "The Children's Corner" for the Gospel News, a national church publication. Mrs. Bickerton was the retired national president of the Ladies Uplift Circle of the church, a position she held for 31 years. Through her leadership, thousands and thousands of dollars were raised for church missionary work. She was a poetess and a composer of religious music. Mrs. Bickerton served on the General Church Hymn Book Committee, traveling with others to Winona Lake, Ind., to meet with the publishers of the book, the Rodeheaver Company. She transposed all of the music from the church's hymnal, using the Sol-Fa notation, for the church's missions in Nigeria, Africa. Mrs. Bickerton also was a deaconess of the church. She loved to travel, having visited the Holy Land and Israel twice, and made numerous trips to Canada and Mexico, as well as to many parts of this country. A verse from Galatians in the New Testament best describes this extraordinary person: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance." Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FRYE FUNERAL HOME INC., 427 West Main St., Monongahela. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ, Sixth and Lincoln streets, with Elders Paul Pamieri and Tony Ross officiating. Interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the General Ladies Circle New Work Fund, or to The Church of Jesus Christ Missionary Foundation at The Church of Jesus Christ World Conference Center, 110 Walton Tea Room Rd., Greensburg, Pa. 15601.